LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO

PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

Photo: UNOCHA/Otto Bakano Overview of the Crisis The humanitarian crisis in the DRC has In human terms, the crisis has had a deepened and spread in 2017, affecting multisectoral comprehensive impact, Crisis Overview people in areas previously considered particularly in the sectors of protection, p.1 stable and putting additional stress on access to water, food security, nutrition coping mechanisms of people in areas and health services. In Tanganyika and Response Strategy already impacted. A surge in violent , violence continues happens p.2 conflict and intercommunal tensions on a daily basis, generating forcible forced more than 1.7 million people to flee displacements and serious violations of Kasai Region their homes, bringing the total number human rights. Meanwhile, in the Kasais, p.4 of IDPs to 4.1 million by November 2017 a relative improvement in the security - the highest number of any country in situation has allowed for timid return Africa. The dramatic deterioration has movements. However, access to basic Tanganyika severely stretched response capacity, most goods and services remains a challenge p.5 profoundly in the Kasais, Tanganyika and across all of these areas for both IDPs and South Kivu. returnees alike. South-Kivu p.6 In the Kasais, an area that was previously In order to mobilize the necessary peaceful, there was minimal humanitarian capacities to address the rapidly increasing presence before the crisis. This, combined needs, the Inter-Agency Standing Priority Requirement with extremely low levels of funding, Committee activated a system-wide Level (General Budget) p.7 limited humanitarian actors’ ability to 3 Response for the crises in the Kasais, establish presence and respond at scale. Tanganyika and South Kivu. While the In addition, an escalation of violence and humanitarian community has taken Priority Needs in Context needs in Tanganyika and South Kivu has concrete steps to scale up its capacity p.8 stretched existing capacity and resources. and response, funding remains largely As a result, humanitarians have had to insufficient to address the current needs, re-allocate staff in areas of existing needs and deliver at scale in 2018. - such as - to areas of new or increasing needs.

PEOPLE IN NEED PEOPLE TARGETED IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS (US$))

4.4M 3.7M 324.2M LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

LEVEL-3 RESPONSE RESPONSE STRATEGY

Applying the System-Wide Level 3 in the DRC The prioritization of humanitarian needs has been established based on the following criteria: The DRC HCT has identified seven areas where collective action is required to ensure that the response is fit- • Severity of needs: humanitarian needs and vulnerability; for-purpose. Each areas includes concrete, measurable physical destruction of basic services infrastructure and benchmarks to guide scale up and planning during the L3 other key resources; activation. • Existing capacities and gaps: already available response capacities of national and international organizations, as well as coping mechanisms of people in need; Greater collective accountability Streamlined humanitarian Coordination • Operational constraints: access of humanitarian actors to affected populations and vice versa; physical and Strengthened collective analysis and security constraints. prioritization As a result of this prioritization approach, health zones Improved response capacity at the most affected by the impact of the current crisis have been interprovincial level identified and ranked across three priority levels: Tier-1, Strengthened preparedness and Tier-2, and the remainder of health zones within the affected contingency planning areas1.

Sufficient funding for humanitarian Tier-1 areas are characterized by extreme volatility, large operations 2 new movements of population, insufficient to inexistent Effective humanitarian advocacy around response capacity and/or major risks of further deterioration access, protection and accountability to of humanitarian indicators. The interaction of these affected populations contextual dynamics makes these areas prone to high levels of vulnerability, as confirmed by alarming sectoral indicators, such as food emergency, severe acute malnutrition, epidemic outbreaks and major access constraints to life-saving services. Needs assessment and prioritization Tier-2 areas report preoccupying levels of vulnerability, As part of the Level-3 response strategy, the HCT has mitigated by better humanitarian presence and response, identified a the most urgent priorities in the near term. The lower levels of immediate life-threatening risks and/or needs outlined in this document have been identified in improved access. At any point, these areas could nonetheless coherence with the review and updating of the 2018 segment slide into scenarios similar to those exposing Tier-1 areas. The of the Humanitarian Response Plan for 2017-2019. The level of humanitarian needs in these areas makes life-saving numbers of people in need and people targeted, as well as the assistance essential. funding requirements, represent only a portion of the overall needs for 2018 in targeted health zones and take into account the response activities already underway.

1 A comprehensive multi-sector needs assessment in the Kasais was completed during the time of writing. In contrast to Tanganyika and South Kivu, the updated prioritization for the Kasais was still ongoing at the time of writing. Prioritization in this document was done using the level of deterioration of humanitarian indicators in 2017 as a proxy.

Evolution of inter-communal and ethnic tensions All three areas in focus for the Level-3 response experience worsening ethnic tensions between various groups for heterogeneous reasons. Response strategies take into account conflict dynamics and trends in intercommunity relations, as key drivers for the estimation of needs in the months ahead into 2018. These factors will need to be monitored for any changes. The particular vulnerabilities and protection needs resulting from the situation of specific ethnic groups in particular locations have also been taken into consideration in the response strategies. LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

Response modalities As part of the Level-3 Response, people of concern will be To operate in these hard-to-access areas, humanitarian targeted with multisectoral packages of activities, as defined assistance requires adapted operational modalities of in the Humanitarian Response Plan 2017-2019. The resolutely intervention. These include cross-cutting common services, multisectoral approach promoted in the HRP remains fully such as logistics and emergency telecommunications support, relevant in ongoing Level 3 contexts, in light notably of the as well as adapted coordination modalities. interplay between drivers of humanitarian needs in affected Considering the ongoing nature of conflict dynamics, the areas. situation is likely to further deteriorate and expand to new areas in the coming weeks and months. As new needs emerge, they will be monitored and integrated in the response strategy and reflected in periodic crisis updates.

Agricultural Seasonality and Food Insecurity

DEC JAN V FE Despite efforts, the major crop season (September to December 2017) O B N M was lost in most parts of the three crisis areas. The next planting season, T A C R

O starting in January, could only be saved, provided that agricultural supplies

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Indicative Agricultural Calendar • 15/01-15/02 : Minor planting season 3 • 15/05-15/06 : Minor harvesting season • 15/08-15/10 : Major planting season • 15/12-15/01 : Major harvesting season

Rainy season and epidemics

DEC JAN V FE Across all of Central and West Africa, DRC is the most affected country O B N M by cholera; it is endemic in many areas, including in health zones across T A C R

O Tanganyika, South Kivu and the Kasai Region. Risks of contamination from

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A season, from October - November to March - April. Y U

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Indicative Rainfall Calendar • Jun-Sep : Dry season • Nov-Apr : Rainy season

(For DRC area South of the Equator)

Rainy Season and humanitarian access DEC JAN V FE O B During the rainy season, the deterioration of the road network represents N

M T an additional constraint to humanitarian access, in addition to security and A C R

O administrative obstacles. This makes access to populations during these

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S months costlier. At the same time, people’s needs are even more severe,

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U notably with regards to waterborne diseases and malaria. The increased

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N U J vulnerability to diarrheic diseases also heightens risks of deterioration of nutritional conditions. Assistance during the rainy season will take a toll on the existing road infrastructure, requiring remedial logistical measures to Indicative Seasonal Calendar mitigate negative impact on communities. • June-Sept : Dry season • Nov-april : Rainy season

(For DRC area South of the Equator) LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

KASAI REGION

Dire needs in a previously unaffected area, 11 times the size of Belgium A violent uprising of a local militia spread rapidly across the Kasai Region, growing to dramatic proportions in Lomela

geographic coverage and brutality. Over the course of the MAI-NDOMBE

past year, around 1.4 million people were displaced across Dekese Katako-Kombe the region and grave human rights abuses were inflicted on Kole Lodja the population. The gravity of the Kasai crisis caught the international community unaware. Emergency funding, which Mweka only started to pick up in May 2017, plateaued prematurely by Lubefu KASAI August. While a relative improvement in the security situation KWILU Ilebo Lusambo Dimbelenge Demba KASAI-ORIENTAL has allowed for some 631,000 people to return home, 762,000 Kabeya- Luebo Kamwanga Lubao people remain internally displaced and 33,000 people have Kananga Lupatapata LOMAMI fled to Angola as refugees. In addition, the massive scale of Katanda Miabi Kazumba Dibaya Tshilenge Kamonia destruction, which has brought socio-economic activity to Kamiji TANGANYIKA Ngandajika a quasi-standstill and led to a 750 per cent increase in acute KASAI CENTRAL Mwene-Ditu Luiza Luilu food insecurity, will likely maintain important segments of the population in a state of deep life-saving needs for many ANGOLA months to come. In light of the dim prospect of immediate HAUT-LOMAMI recovery, combined with risks of resurgence of electoral Kapanga violence, any delay in the provision of sufficient humanitarian assistance is likely to cause the loss of many more lives. Kamonia, Luebo, Mweka, in Kasai Province; Demba; Dibaya; Key Operational Considerations Kazumba; Luiza; Dimbelenge, in Central Kasai; Kabeya- • As the security situation improves in the Kasai Region, 4 Kamwanga, Miabi, in Oriental Kasai; Luilu, Kamiji, Mwene- return movements are amplifying. Nevertheless, pockets Ditu in have been identified as first-tier of insecurity remains and part of the displaced population priority. will be unable to return their areas of origin for an extended period of time. Immediate Requirements in Priority Areas • The intervention strategy shall therefore involve a two-

GLOAL AND PRIORIT (In lln) track approach: the first is focused on accompanying 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 returns and restoring livelihoods and access to basic d Seurt services; the second is focused on providing life-saving Prtetn assistance to IDPs to cover their basic needs during the AS displacement period. ealt • In light of the sensitivity of the context, the operational NISelter

PEOPLE IN NEED strategy will include particular attention to Do No Harm Nutrtn and humanitarian principles through the inclusion of Eduatn community awareness activities; active involvement of beneficiaries; and a strong commitment to well- d Seurt coordinated interventions; Prtetn AS • Since the inception of the crisis in the Kasai region, some ealt affected areas have remained without any assistance NISelter because of physical and security constraints, as well lack

PEOPLE TARGETED Nutrtn of funding. The window of opportunity for improved Eduatn access should be seized to deploy assistance in these unassisted areas. Prrt 1 Prrt 2 Ttal n aeted area

TOTAL POPULATION PEOPLE IN NEED PEOPLE TARGETED IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS (US$) 29 M M M Humanitarian 19.4 2.9 2.5 198.6M Organizations in Kasai region LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

TANGANYIKA

Interplay of conflict dynamics SOUTH KIVU MANIEMA In 2017, the resurgence of a conflict between two ethnic groups in resulted in rapidly deteriorating humanitarian needs. The conflict took on a Kabongo new turn in June, when the minority ethnic militia formed TANZANIA Nyunzu an alliance with militias from South Kivu and Maniema, engulfing hitherto unaffected parts of Tanganyika into the Kabalo Kalemie conflict. The formation of this new coalition also increases Tanganyika Lake risks that national-level politics will affect local conflict dynamics. This might forebode further local humanitarian impact from electoral tensions in 2018. Manono

Moba As a result, some 207,000 people have fled their homes this year, bringing the total number of IDPs to 584,000. Insecurity and displacement have left nearly 1 million people HAUT-LOMAMI severely food insecure, including more than 350,000 in IPC Phase 4. Since October, Nyunzu and Kongolo Territories Pweto have experienced large waves of new displacement, due Moeru Lake to intense violence. Around the urban center of Kalemie, HAUT-KATANGA thousands of people remain displaced in sites and among ZAMBIA host communities. Tensions and humanitarian needs in the Territory of Moba have flown into neighboring Pweto Territory (Haut ), from where thousands Key Operational Considerations of refugees have in turn fled to Zambia. The displacement • Despite relatively large numbers of humanitarian actors situation compounds a cholera epidemic (affecting five out mobilized in Tanganyika, operational capacities are 5 of Tanganyika’s six Territories). For the immediate response, limited in critical areas, notably for rapid response to health zones in the Territories of Kalemie, Nyunzu and parts new alerts. With the geographic expansion of affected of Pweto have been identified as first-tier priority, with grave areas, this issue only intensifies. Improving rapid response concerns regarding the Territory of Kongolo. capacities is imperative in light of the dynamic nature of the crisis. Immediate requirements in priority areas • Ongoing military operations and attacks by militias along GLOAL AND PRIORIT (In lln) the road network represent a growing challenge for the 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 AS provision of assistance. This volatile situation and the consequent operational constraints require strengthening Prtetn civil-military coordination and active negotiations with NISelter parties to the conflict. d Seurt ealt • Specific attention is required to ensure impartial access to PEOPLE IN NEED Eduatn assistance, particularly in light of the reduced accessibility Nutrtn of Batwa civilians who have fled to the bush. The response strategy reflects this consideration by focusing on AS preliminary awareness raising activities and the active Prtetn involvement of Batwa community members to increase NISelter acceptance. d Seurt ealt • Physical access is a challenge in Tanganyika, particularly

PEOPLE TARGETED Eduatn in Southern areas and into Pweto Territory. The rainy Nutrtn season will further deteriorate road access, and require adapted rapid logistics activities. Prrt 1 Prrt 2 Ttal n aeted area

TOTAL POPULATION PEOPLE IN NEED PEOPLE TARGETED IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS (US$) 46 M M M Humanitarian 3.5 0.9 0.7 69.5M Organizations in Tanganyika province and Pweto territory LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

SOUTH-KIVU

In 2017, South Kivu has seen an increase in humanitarian needs due to violent clashes, resulting in multiple waves of NORTH KIVU displacement. The first quarter of 2017 saw a large influx of Kivu Lake Kalehe Idjwi internally displaced persons from neighboring Tanganyika RWANDA province into Fizi Territory. The emergence of a new coalition

of local armed groups in June generated an upsurge of Bukavu Shabunda Kabare

insecurity inside the province, which saw dramatic episodes Walungu in Uvira and Shabunda between September and early October. As a result, the number of displaced persons has increased Uvira dramatically. Insecurity has also impacted neighboring SOUTH KIVU BURUNDI Maniema, generating the displacement of 78,000 people in the Mwenga last 3 months alone. In this province, Kabambare Territory remains under control of armed militias, and reports alarming levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. Inside the territory, food insecurity in two sectors (Babuyu and Bahombo) reaches

emergency levels (IPC Phase 4). Fizi

MANIEMA Humanitarian presence in South Kivu and Maniema has Kabambare diminished in recent years, mainly due to large funding cuts. Tanganyika Lake TANZANIA In the absence of substantial overcapacity elsewhere in the

country, the response to the upsurge of humanitarian needs TANGANYIKA has been slim to none in South Kivu and Kabambare Territory (Maniema). Humanitarian actors present in remote affected areas, notably Fizi Territory, remain concentrated in certain Key Operational Considerations segments, for lack of capacity to expand their coverage. A • In 2017, South Kivu has experienced a drastic reduction 6 cholera outbreak in the urban center of Bukavu was quickly of prepositioned capacities for rapid needs assessments contained, but other parts of South Kivu (including Fizi and response. The new cycle of violence, which erupted Territory) continue to be affected. Health zones in Kabambare, in the month of June 2017, requires reinvesting in Fizi and Shabunda have been identified as first-tier priorities. adapted rapid response capabilities in order to address the constant flow of new alerts. GLOAL AND PRIORIT (In lln) 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 • In addition, the humanitarian response in Maniema will AS be coordinated from the hub in Bukavu (South Kivu). NISelter This will require a strong commitment of actors to ensure ealt prompt and adequate transmission of new alerts with an d Seurt interprovincial crisis response approach. Prtetn PEOPLE IN NEED • Humanitarian assistance faces specific constraints in Eduatn the context of the South Kivu and Maniema response. Nutrtn Physical access remains a major issue, and will further

AS be hampered during the rainy season. Logistics support NISelter will therefore be key in ensuring timely provision of life- ealt saving assistance. d Seurt • A second barrier to humanitarian access is related to Prtetn insecurity induced by the ongoing conflict in affected PEOPLE TARGETED Eduatn areas. To overcome this challenge, civil-military Nutrtn coordination will be strengthened and access negotiations will be actively supported. Prrt 1 Prrt 2 Ttal n aeted area

TOTAL POPULATION PEOPLE IN NEED PEOPLE TARGETED IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS (US$) 18 M M M Humanitarian 6.9 0.7 0.5 56.1M Organizations in South Kivu and Kabambare territory LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS GENERAL BUDGET

The aim of this document is to provide a joint multisectoral More specifically, this document include immediate funding operational strategy to cover immediate needs in the most needs for Tier-1 and Tier-2 priority areas, including cross- vulnerable areas of the Level-3 response. It flows from cutting costs (logistics and emergency telecommunications). an effort to prioritize and sequence the response, among The costing methodology is coherent with the Humanitarian the overall needs projected in the updated Humanitarian Response Plan 2017-2019, as revised for 2018. Response Plan for the year 2018. The severity of vulnerabilities, needs and major risks of affected people in these priority areas requires emergency assistance that cannot be delayed.

IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS IN L3 AREAS (In lln) T S R P d Seurt 3 132.2M 27.6M 18.4M NISelter 3 15.1M 11.7M 8.4M Lgt 33 11.0M 11.0M 11.0M Nutrtn 15.8M 3.8M 2.9M Prtetn 12.4M 4.8M 1.8M Eduatn 10.5M 4.3M 3.5M AS 0.4M 4.6M 4.2M ealt 3 0.7M 1.3M 5.3M Eergen Teleunatn 0.5M 05M 0.5M 7 TOT 24.2 18.6 6.5 56.1

Photo: UNOCHA/Otto Bakano LEVEL-3 RESPONSE IN THE DR CONGO - PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS

PRIORITY NEEDS IN CONTEXT

Beyond immediate requirements in Level 3 areas, Malnutrition remains a critical issue, with 6 out of 26 major humanitarian needs in the D.R. Congo provinces reaching emergency thresholds and an estimated 160,000 children under five years old dying each year from Recent projections by the humanitarian community in the its consequences. Concerning epidemics, the year 2017 has context of the HRP revision process indicate a probable seen the highest number of cholera cases in DRC over the past deterioration of the humanitarian situation in 2018 across the decade; risks of further deterioration remain high in light of DRC. Political instability related to the postponed electoral the impending rainy months, expected further displacements, context is likely to result in further tensions during most of and limited prepositioned supplies. Conflicts and logistical the year, given risks of political instrumentalisation of popular constraints also limit vaccination coverage capacity, and discontent and the major deterioration of socio-economic heighten the probability of recurring peaks of measles indicators. In addition, armed groups and militias are likely outbreaks. In 2017, eleven new Territories are facing food to take advantage of the current intercommunity tensions and emergency levels (the highest level in the IPC classification popular discontent to expand their control. These two factors before reaching famine). will undoubtedly result in new population movements within the DRC and across its borders, as exemplified by the influx This type of crisis requires a rapid response strategy, based of Congolese refugees into Angola and Zambia. Conversely, on early warning mechanisms, prepositioned supplies, and instability in neighboring CAR, Burundi, and South Sudan rapid interagency assessment capacities. In contrast, the year could create new flows of refugees into the DRC. 2017 has seen a reduction in humanitarian financing, with a direct impact on rapid assessment and response capacities. Acute vulnerability and lack of access to basic goods As a result, minimum delays for the response have increased and services will result from these trends, as a result of to at least one month. It would take a re-engagement from displacement, destruction of social infrastructure and the donor community to restock supplies and recover the impeded access to livelihoods. Protection will remain a key 8 timeliness of multisectoral response humanitarian issue, due to the combination of – on the one hand - an expanding theater of military operations and armed groups’ activities and – on the other hand – physical security constraints to humanitarian access. As a result, the existing protection monitoring mechanisms remain insufficient to monitor needs.

TOTAL UDGET SE AND AGE

N O T P P R R GRAND P P TOTAL ($) ($M) ($) () () ($) ($M) ($M) ($M) (M) (M) Protection 13.1M 13.1M 8.2 87.0 2.5 89.5 0.6 0.6 27.3 16.4 105.9 52 60.5 35 4.5

AS 13.1M 82M 11.4 92.9 0.5 93.4 0.6 0.2 26.3 4.9 98.3 52 60.5 35 4.5

ealt 10.5M 10.5M 18.0 188.9 1.0 189.9 0.6 0.6 20.7 12.4 202.3 52 60.5 35 4.5

Food Security 9.9M 8.2M 70.7 579.6 0.5 580.1 580.1 51 60.5 35 4.5 No food items 4.7M 3.7M 142.4 0.5 142.9 0.6 0.2 31.7 5.9 148.8 52 60.5 35 4.5 and elter Nutrtn 4.6M 2.0M 99.3 194.6 0.5 195.1 0.3 0.1 25.5 2.6 197.7 52 86 14 0

Education 3.4M 1.7M 65.0 122.8 0.5 111.9 0.4 0.2 33.9 8.4 120.8 52 100 0 0 Refugees Non-sectoral Response 0.6M 0.6M 152.1 87.0 87.0 0.6 0.6 39.3 22.5 87.0 52 60.5 35 4.5 Logistics 87.5 1.5 89.0 0.6 0.2 75.3 14.0 103.0 NA NA Emergency Telecommunications 1.4 NA NA NA 1.4 NA NA rdnatn 14.3 2.4 16.7 NA NA NA 16.7 NA NA

a 44.0 13.2 13.2 NA NA NA 13.2 NA NA

TOTAL** 13.1M 10.5M 58.6 1 599.3 9.9 1610.6 0.6 0.6 145.2 87.1 1 675.2 52% 60.5 | 35 | 4.5%

*Children (<18 years old), adult (18-59 years), elderly (>59 years) **Total figure is not the total of the collumn as the same people may appear several time